In his Annals of the New York Stage, George C. D. Odell notes that the opening of The Gilded Age was the first big hit of the season, and the start of "one of the most successful plays of the decade."
The original New York cast was as follows:
Col. Mulberry Sellers......................... J. T. Raymond
Col. George Selby................................Milnes Levick
Si Hawkins...............................................Sol Smith
Clay Hawkins................................... W. J. Ferguson
Uncle Daniel....................................John H. Burnett
District Attorney.............................. Welsh Edwards
Lafayette............................................ William Mack
Counsel for the Defense................... John Matthews
John Peterson................................... Frank Langley
Clerk of the Court..................................H. B. Cutler
Sheriff............................................................Ables
Foreman of the Jury.............................. J. H. Reddy
Reporter........................................................White
Laura Hawkins.............................. Gertrude Kellogg
Mrs. Si. Hawkins.........................................A. Hind
Emily Hawkins.....................................Alice Clayton
Mrs. Sellers.....................................Bella Wallace (5)
